Health

Giggles and laughter, even when forced, can boost heart health, immunity and mood. Photo: Shutterstock

How laughter is good for your heart, immune system, pain – even if it’s fake

Studies show that laughter reduces stress, boosts immunity, heart health and even lowers pain – ‘it’s like you’ve taken pain medication’.

24 Dec 2025 - 7:15PMvideocam

As weight-loss drugs reduce appetites, US restaurants cut portion sizes

24 Dec 2025 - 4:15AM

7 of the most popular health and wellness stories from 2025

23 Dec 2025 - 12:45PM

Need to pass gas after eating? Why taking a short walk is so good for you

‘If you take 100 steps after each meal, you’ll live to 99,’ an ancient Chinese proverb says. Here is why a post-meal walk is so beneficial.

22 Dec 2025 - 7:15AM

Research backs the benefits of a post-meal walk, which triggers the contraction and relaxation of the stomach and intestines and speeds up the movement of food and gas. Photo: Shutterstock

In top shape at 71, Singapore-based Swede helps people over 50 get stronger

Christer Ekberg started helping people keep fit after noticing that many people aged 50 and above gave up on fitness and physical strength.

21 Dec 2025 - 7:15AM

How to avoid gaining weight this Christmas while still enjoying great food

Diet experts weigh in on healthy festive eating to avoid weight gain, from foods with nutritional ‘superpowers’ to alternatives to sugar.

20 Dec 2025 - 7:15AM

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New dating app is helping disabled and chronically ill people find love

Disabled and chronically ill people are often ghosted or rejected on mainstream dating apps. Dateability is evening the playing field.

18 Dec 2025 - 7:15PM

Dateability now covers the US, Canada, Mexico and the UK, with about 40,000 registered users. It was recently updated to improve the look and functionality.
Photo: info.dateabilityapp.com — Dateability now covers the US, Canada, Mexico and the UK, with about 40,000 registered users. It was recently updated to improve the look and functionality. Photo: info.dateabilityapp.com

Why Hong Kong’s first pro female MMA fighter now battles for women’s health

Wellness entrepreneur Tricia Yap is helping reshape women’s health by focusing on areas like precision training and lifestyle medicine.

18 Dec 2025 - 12:50PMvideocam

How to avoid financial stress this holiday season? Experts share tips

From budgeting to giving experiences, a therapist, finance app boss and retail guru share how to enjoy the holidays without racking up debt.

16 Dec 2025 - 5:15PM

China fintech giant Ant upgrades AI health app to tap eldercare, wellness demand

App AQ integrates Apple and Huawei devices, adds family health profiles and smart reminders to boost user engagement.

16 Dec 2025 - 8:00AM

Ant Group’s AI health app AQ has accumulated 15 million monthly active users since its launch in June 2025. Photo: Handout

Listening to music can lower dementia risk by nearly 40%, new study says

Research shows how listening to music can both lower dementia risk and improve cognitive areas like memory, attention and problem-solving.

15 Dec 2025 - 7:15PMvideocam

Want to boost brain health? A study suggests regular music listening may cut dementia risk by 39 per cent. Photo: Shutterstock

She quit her corporate job to walk 5,700km alone across America

Jessica Guo became the first woman to hike a continuous route linking the Continental Divide Trail with the Great Divide Trail.

16 Dec 2025 - 6:20PM

How does humming help you reduce stress? Expert tips on yogic breathing

Humming stimulates the vagus nerve and has other health benefits, and is the base of the yogic breathing technique ‘humming bee breath’.

13 Dec 2025 - 7:52AMvideocam

How a nap helps you power through the day and why you should set your alarm

An afternoon catnap lasting from 10 to 30 minutes can leave you refreshed and recharged, and even strengthen your mental health over time.

11 Dec 2025 - 3:15PM

The best time for a power nap is for 15 to 20 minutes after lunch, between 1pm and 2pm, one expert says. Photo: Shutterstock

Love your baby bump? How to get a bespoke pregnancy sculpture in Hong Kong

Samantha Waterhouse was not able to capture her own unique curves during pregnancy, so now she helps other mothers-to-be preserve theirs.

10 Dec 2025 - 12:15PM

Samantha Waterhouse, pictured here in 2021 when she was pregnant with her first child, has set up a bespoke pregnancy sculpture service that transforms a woman’s unique curves into pieces of art using 3D scanning technology. Photo: The Bump Collective

She’d make excuses to skip running club. Now she’s smashed the 6 big marathons

Sophia Leung didn’t start running until her 40s and even then she wasn’t keen. Six world major marathons later and running is her ‘medicine’.

10 Dec 2025 - 3:25PM

Health benefits of mugwort and its role in TCM and Japanese herbal medicine

Mugwort is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory herb with warming properties, used in East Asian traditional medicine and modern spas.

10 Dec 2025 - 10:08AM

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Should you eat more fibre? How much you need and what foods are full of it

Fibre offers benefits from improved digestion to better heart health – but think twice before going all out on ‘fibermaxxing’.

8 Dec 2025 - 12:13PM

Protein-enhanced products have been trending for years, but the number of new products promoted with high or added fibre has seen a big uptick of late. On social media, this has helped boost “fibermaxxing”. Photo: Shutterstock

How does 71-year-old yoga teacher look so much younger than her age?

From waking up with the sun to having lemon water to start her day, Argie Ligeros shares her secrets for ageing well.

7 Dec 2025 - 12:15PM

Explainer | On the verge of a breakdown, new mother discovers what stress really is

A battle with cancer, a new baby and an alcoholic husband tested high-flying executive Asha’s ability to cope with stress.

6 Dec 2025 - 7:33AM

Why you should take up swimming after your retirement

Swimming takes pressure off joints, builds muscle strength and cardiovascular health, boosts mental health, and can improve your social life.

5 Dec 2025 - 7:15PM

When compared with other low-impact activities like walking or cycling, swimming is a safer exercise for people who struggle with balance, works more muscle groups, and is something you can do all year round, one expert says. Photo: Shutterstock

At 50, she became the first woman to swim around Hong Kong’s Lantau Island

Open water swimmer Edie Hu shares how 10 years of endurance training helped her swim the 65km circumnavigation and set another record.

3 Dec 2025 - 3:35PM

An elated Edie Hu shares an embrace with her open water swimming partner Simon Holliday after the two completed a 65km circumnavigation of Lantau Island on November 20, 2025 - a world’s first. Photo: Amy Miao

Yellow, brittle, excessive peeling: how your nails give your health away

A nail artist and a doctor share the telltale signs of poor health, from fingertip colour changes to ridges, plus simple tips for nail care.

3 Dec 2025 - 7:15AM

How many steps should you walk for minimum brain health decline?

A new study suggests that walking’s potential benefits in slowing cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s may begin well below 10,000 steps a day.

15 Dec 2025 - 5:23PM

Could magic mushrooms help us live longer? What Bryan Johnson’s test showed

Johnson’s conclusions after taking magic mushrooms are backed by findings that psychedelics could extend life by rewiring the brain and more.

4 Dec 2025 - 3:47PM

Recent research suggests psilocybin, the psychedelic found in magic mushrooms, could prolong life by improving mental health, reducing oxidative stress and improving DNA repair responses. Photo: Shutterstock

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